Movies Gene Hackman vs. Marlon Brando - Who's the better actor?

[Takes Two To Tango]

Both were in the Superman movie with Christopher Reeve. But never had a scene together I believe.

Who's the superior actor of the two in your opinion?

Gene Hackman:

The French Connection
Superman
Hoosiers
Mississippi Burning
Unforgiven
The Firm
Crimson Tide
The Birdcage
The Royal Tenenbaums

Marlon Brando:

A Streetcar Named Desire
The Wild One
On the Waterfront
Guys and Dolls
Mutiny on the Bounty
The Godfather
The Missouri Breaks
Superman
Apocalypse Now

 

[Bacco]

The Godfather will win this for Brando

 

[Cyrano200]

It always seemed to me that Marlon Brando gets a lot of credit because we've been told he's great. Some classic movies, sure, but for me Gene Hackman has earned his rep. Even in the silly roles like Superman and The Quick and the Dead, he shines.

 

[PRIDEWASBETTER]

I like Hackman better.

Both are great.

 

[scorpipede]

Hackman is fantastic. I've seen more with him in it and it's all quality to great stuff.

 

[I Fusion I]

The one who did The Godfather

 

[Goon Dog]

It always seemed to me that Marlon Brando gets a lot of credit because we've been told he's great. Some classic movies, sure, but for me Gene Hackman has earned his rep. Even in the silly roles like Superman and The Quick and the Dead, he shines.

Agree 100%

 

[HUGHPHUG]

Not keen on rapey dudes so fuck Marlon

But Gene would get my vote even if Marlon wasnt a fucking rapey douche

 

[scorpipede]

Not keen on rapey dudes so fuck Marlon

But Gene would get my vote even if Marlon wasnt a fucking rapey douche

He's a raper?

 

[HunterAcosta]

Marlon . Changed the acting game back in day and came back with Godfather snd Last Tango . I do like Hackman though .

 

[Jkillah]

Stella!

 

[mmascene]

Hackman.

 

[John Mabrey]

godfather>french connection

 

[HUGHPHUG]

He's a raper?

Rapey more so, the Last Tango butter scene is pretty fucking appalling once you read Maria Schneider's version

 

[Highway99]

Its Marlon Brando. And that's not taking anything away from the extraordinary talent of Gene Hackman.

But Brando was such a natural, with a deep understanding of the craft and and a probing eye for human behavior from the very beginning, even without Stella Adler's instruction. He was made for acting, despite his distaste for it.

 

[crabmeat]

 

[crabmeat]

4

Rapey more so, the Last Tango butter scene is pretty fucking appalling once you read Maria Schneider's version

From what I remember, she blamed the director.

 

[ufcfan4]

At the end of the day Hackman maintained his aura into a longer film career. Brando post-Godfather was iconic but was also essentially looking for a massive paycheck then holding off doing anything for years, rinse repeat. If you look at his filmography from 80 onward, it’s pretty sparse.


Now maybe you can’t really let that factor into the analysis of which one was the superior actor, but, I think an argument could be made that it does have some part.

Both guys were really legitimately great though.

 

[Hanz_Blitz]

Gene Hackman is f'n swewet but no depth, that dude is always just Gene Hackman. Like John Wayne. Brando wins a who's best as well as filmography and I am unsure where the competition comes from

 

[ClubFoot]